December 16 - Third Sunday in Advent

Today’s Scriptures: Lectionary selections from the Revised Common Lectionary Year C Zephaniah 3:14-20 Isaiah 12:2-6 Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:7-8

Today’s Reflection: O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Our joy, our rejoicing comes in the knowledge that Emmanuel has come to us and will come again. The Philippians passage brings us into a time that exceeds joy to rejoicing. Joy (should) fills us because we have the spirit with us at all times, but then there are the times that we rejoice. Joy tends to be subtle and content to contain itself. Rejoicing blasts that joy to everyone present. There are times to rejoice. Today is such a day. Open your heart. Open your soul. Open your voice. Let us show the world the joy we know. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, all Christendom.

Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org